There may be a glimmer of good news on the horizon for consumers. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa has raised its eyebrows at Eskom’s requested 53% hike in electricity tariffs. And if the total increase is granted, energy-intensive users could carry a large part of the burden.
In the Southern African Development Community about 45% of the population lives in extreme poverty. For many poor people in the region informal trade is the only way to sustain themselves and their families. Governments in the region, however, ignore this parallel economy, hampering their citizens’ attempts to survive, say experts.
My day, Monday to Friday, starts at 4.45am, with tekkies, a T-shirt and rugby shorts. I take to the road for about 5km, just jogging. This is the time when I start focusing on my daily programme.
Now we know what we always knew. The verdict in the Diana inquest ought to chasten everyone in the victims’ families: their deaths could have been prevented.
The conspiracy theories that have swirled around the inquest obscured the deadly implications of systems disoriented by hype, hysteria and more money than sense.
Pretoria-based swim star Suzaan van Biljon collected a gold medal for South Africa in clocking a new Fina World Short-Course Swimming Championships record in the 200m breaststroke final on Sunday. Also, Ryan Lochte claimed his fourth gold medal as world records crashed yet again on the final day of the championships in Manchester.
Engineers in South Africa are an endangered species. Latest labour department figures show that the skills shortage in the industry had surpassed the 10 000 mark by the end of last year. South African Women in Engineering aims to turn things around and has set their sights on attracting and keeping women in the profession.
On the surface, South Africa’s assumption of the presidency of the United Nations Security Council earlier this month has no relevance for the Zimbabwe electoral crisis. Desperate Zimbabweans could call for help from the UN, but this call comes when South Africa is gatekeeper at the Security Council.
The Eagles saved their best for last when they trounced the Pumas 50-12 in a Vodacom Cup rugby match at George on Saturday. The match was only of academic value and neither side qualified for the cup play-offs. The Eagles scored eight tries to the two of the Pumas.
The unpredictable Moroka Swallows were flying high after delivering a crushing blow to Ajax Cape Town’s Premier Soccer League title aspirations with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory on Sunday. In other matches, Sundowns beat Chiefs 1-0; Celtic and Leopards drew 2-2; and AmaZulu and Platinum Stars drew 0-0.
Owen Hargreaves was Manchester United’s unlikely goal-scoring hero as the English Premier League leaders came from behind to see-off title challengers Arsenal 2-1 at Old Trafford in London on Sunday. Earlier on Sunday, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored in a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at Anfield.